Feasibility study of oxygen getter materials for FBR MOX fuel, 2; Investigation of loading options, evaluation of oxidation behavior and compatibilities of the candidate materials

Morihira, Masayuki 

In the FaCT project, high bundle peak burn-up to 250 GWd/t is targeted. Cladding inner corrosion is one of the life control factors of FBR MOX fuels. Because it increases with extension of burn-up, significant corrosion is expected in the high burn-up. Considering the excess oxygen during fission is the cause of corrosion, reduction of initial O/M ratio of MOX fuel pellets is one of the solutions. But it is not always easy to obtain low O/M ratio pellets especially in mass production. Oxygen getter option is an idea to coexistence of oxidizable metal fragments in a fuel element as an excess oxygen absorber. A feasibility study for oxygen getter options which was focused on pellet type MOX fuel was conducted. This report describes latest evaluation result for the loading options of oxygen getter materials and the oxidation behavior of the candidates such as Ti and Zr as well as their compatibilities with FMS cladding material and UO.